Container

Abstract

A container for connection to pole. The container includes a receptacle and a releasable clamp. The releasable clamp has a C-shape and is integrally molded with the receptacle of a shape memory material. The arms of the C-clamp deflect outwardly to allow the container to be attached onto the pole in a direction that is transverse to the pole axis. When the arms surround the pole, they produce a frictional force that holds the container in position along the pole.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
       1. A container for attachment to a pole comprising: 
       a tapering receptacle for holding and displaying decorative objects, said receptacle having an exterior wall, a closed bottom, and an open top, and  
       b) a releasable clamp on the exterior of said receptacle, said releasable clamp having a passage therethrough to permit said releasable clamp to past transversely onto the pole and to fix the container at a selected position along the pole; and  
       c) wherein said releasable clamp extends from said exterior wall proximate said open top of said receptacle.  
     
     
       2. A container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said receptacle is molded and said releasable clamp is integrally molded with said receptacle. 
     
     
       3. A container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pole has a given diameter and wherein said releasable clamp is molded from a shape memory material to form a partially closed structure having a diameter that is less than the given pole diameter, said structure including spaced arms that form the passage, said passage enlarging as said d releasable clamp passes the pole, said structure, when coaxial with the pole contracted to produce sufficient friction to position the container the selected position. 
     
     
       4. A container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pole has a given diameter and wherein said releasable clamp is molded from a shape memory material to form a partially closed structure having a diameter that is less than the given pole diameter, said structure including first and second spaced arcuate arms having space free ends forming a C-clamp about a clamp axis, each of said arms having a thickness that enables them to deflect outwardly when a force is applied to their respective free ends. 
     
     
       5. A container as recited in  claim 4  wherein the pole extends along a pole axis, each said arcuate arms having an interior surface for engaging the pole and positioning said container with the clamp axis positioned coaxially with the pole axis. 
     
     
       6. A container as recited in  claim 3  wherein said receptacle has a frustoconical shape with a tapered exterior wall, said spaced arms being oriented on said exterior wall with the clamp axis parallel to the adjacent tapered exterior wall. 
     
     
       7. A container for attachment to a vertical pole of a given diameter comprising: 
       A) a frustoconical receptacle for holding and displaying decorative objects, said receptacle having a closed end and an open end and being bounded by an exterior wall,  
       B) an integrally molded releasable clamp attached to a portion of said receptacle, said clamp having first and second deflectable arcuate arm portions terminating in counterfacing, spaced free ends defining a passage that is narrower than the diameter of the pole thereby to define a C-clamp structure having a diameter that is less than the pole diameter, each of said free ends being deflected to increase the passage size and enable the C-clamp to encompass the pole whereupon said arms return toward their original positions to clamp said container on the pole; and  
       C) where in said receptacle and said arms are molded from a shape memory material and said first and second arms define their respective original positions in a relaxed state, said arms, in that state, lying along a clamp axis that parallels the adjacent exterior portion of said receptacle.  
     
     
       8. A container as recited in  claim 7  wherein 
       i) said receptacle has a closed bottom and open top, and  
       ii) said releasable clamp extends from said exterior wall proximate said open top of said receptacle.  
     
     
       9. A container as recited in  claim 8  wherein said receptacle has a smooth interior surface and a sculpted exterior surface.